Former Augusta, George State Medical Prison correctional officers John Williams, Antonio Binns, and Justin Washington, have been charged with a civil rights violation. The indictment alleges that on February 13, 2014, the three assaulted an inmate, known in the case as “C.V.” while he was handcuffed behind his back. Binns and Washington were also indicted for one count of obstruction of justice for allegedly writing false reports to cover-up the assault.

According to the Augusta Chronicle, bonds of $20,000 were set for Williams and Washington, and a $30,000 bond was set for Binns. Binns’ bond will be lowered to $20,000 if he loses his job, according to court documents.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; U.S. Attorney Edward J. Tarver of the Southern District of Georgia and Special Agent in Charge J. Britt Johnson of the FBI’s Atlanta Division made the announcement.

If convicted of the civil rights charge, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The obstruction of justice counts carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The Southern Center for Human Rights called on the Department of Justice to investigate in 2014 after a string of homicides and other violence. Between 2011 and 2013, three inmates at Augusta State Medical Prison were murdered. A total of 34 homicides occurred in Georgia prisons between 2010 and 2014.

Other Investigations Into Georgia Prisons

In February, the federal “Operation Ghost Guard” undercover operation led to the indictment of 46 correction officers at nine Georgia prisons. The two-year investigation, according to news reports, involved guards willing to take cash for bringing contraband – liquor, tobacco and cellphones into correctional centers for inmates.

FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge J. Britt Johnson called the two-year investigation, “unprecedented” in scope.

“While the vast majority of those working within Georgia’s correctional facilities are dedicated and loyal officers and employees, criminal and corrupt activities were found in 11 of the 35 state corrections facilities. Central to those illegal activities inside the prisons was the unbridled use of cell phones.”

The contraband cell phones were used to organize drug trafficking inside prisons, to perpetrate identity theft and conduct phone scams such as the “jury scams” that resulted in tens of thousands of dollars. The prisoners then used the money to pay-off correctional officers to protect drug deals.

According to the FBI press release;

“The February indictments focused on correctional officers who were willing to sell their badges—to use their law enforcement credentials to protect what they believed to be drug deals involving large shipments of methamphetamine and cocaine. In a series of FBI undercover operations, more than 45 officers agreed to protect the supposed drug deals in exchange for thousands of dollars in bribes. During the undercover deals, the officers often wore their official uniforms or displayed their badges to avoid law enforcement scrutiny.”

Good morning Yahtzee! Absolutely. One reason I wanted to report on this is because there are people who think that a federal investigation can be conducted overnight. If it takes longer than several months, they argue that the feds have no evidence. Investigators cross their t’s and dot their i’s,so prosecuting U.S. Attorneys, (like you say), have strong cases.

“A total of 34 homicides occurred in Georgia prisons between 2010 and 2014.” We had nearly 1 per day in 2014 here in Florida. I am thrilled this investigation led to these charges and exposed the prison system in Georgia.

Oh. My. God. “In a series of FBI undercover operations, more than 45 officers agreed to protect the supposed drug deals in exchange for thousands of dollars in bribes. During the undercover deals, the officers often wore their official uniforms or displayed their badges to avoid law enforcement scrutiny.”

My goodness! That’s over 300 lives lost. Guess that Florida has exercised its death penalty through prison homicides.

You know, I read about the jury scams. Knowing now that those calls were made by prisoners gives me kinda a sigh of relief. At least the feds have identified the source. It would take longer trying to track people down in other countries like that email scam from a “friend” saying they were robbed and needed money.

There’s no relief however, knowing that the money was used to bribe correction officers. I suspect that the feds might auction off those officers’ dirty underwear to recover the money for victims.

What about all those murders?!? And what about the other brutality that didn’t result in death but murdered the dignity of men & women whom the majority were likely nonviolent offenders too poor to afford decent council?
We need MORE from the FEDS. We need law enforcement officials to be held to really strick standards. They can’t get away with physical violence against the defenseless ppl in custody.